Milwaukee woman charged with tax fraud, could face more than 65 years in prison if convicted

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MILWAUKEE — Latoyah Grayson of Milwaukee is facing 18 felony charges in Milwaukee County Circuit Court – 17 counts of issuing a worthless check and one count of theft by fraud.

The charges were brought by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office following an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s Office of Criminal Investigation. If convicted on all counts, Grayson could face more than 65 years in prison.

Grayson owed the State $2,165.73 based on audits of her 2008 and 2010 income tax returns, as well as penalties, fees, and interest for failing to file her 2009 tax return on time. The complaint alleges that Grayson then attempted to use fake bank accounts between March 7-June 18, 2014, to pay her tax debt.

According to the criminal complaint, Grayson would intentionally overpay the amount she owed for back taxes from these fake bank accounts in an attempt to get a refund on her over-payments. During that four month time period, the agency prevented approximately $195,000 in fraudulent over-payment refunds from being issued. The State is seeking compensation for the $5,203.05 that Grayson received. During the investigation by the Wisconsin Department of

Revenue, Grayson admitted that the accounts were fictitious and that there was never any money in them.
Grayson is being prosecuted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is acting as Special Prosecutor for Milwaukee County. If convicted on all counts, Grayson could face more than 65 years in prison.